Let's make it Fortress Madejski

RICKY NEWMAN believes Reading will need to recapture their home form if they are to succeed in Division 1 next season.

One of the main reasons why Royals missed out on the Division 2 championship last May was their tendency to drop too many points at Madejski Stadium.

Reading's away form was the best in the division thanks largely to a swift counter-attacking style of play.

But in the comfort of Madejski Stadium they often found it hard to break down stubborn sides who relished the chance to scupper a side tipped as favourites to top the table.

Royals dropped 26 points at home last season, losing four and drawing seven.

But next season Alan Pardew's men will not have the weight of expectation from a demanding home crowd to deal with and Newman feels that could be the key to Reading holding their own in the division.

The 31-year-old, who looks as though he has won his 15-month battle against a serious knee injury and plans to return to pre-season training tomorrow, said: "The home form is going to be so important to us.

"I think we have some really top-quality players - many of whom have played at this level - but we have to get things right at home.

"Our form at Madejski Stadium was certainly not brilliant last season and towards the end we only won one in 10 and none at home.

"There is so much expectation to beat sides. With no disrespect to teams like Chesterfield, we were expected to beat them, but they would come down and pack people behind the ball and they even beat us last season.

"A lot of clubs did that and our home form suffered, but next year things will be different.

"We will have teams like Wolves coming down and the pressure will not be on us. It could work for us away as well as when we go to big clubs like Wolves they will be expected to beat us - it's a reversal of roles from last season.

"I would say mid-table is a realistic target, but if we made three or four additions and got off to a good start then a play-off place is a possibility."

Newman suffered his knee injury against Walsall in April 2001 and had to endure a second operation after the first proved unsuccessful.

But he admits at the moment he is just concentrating on returning to pre-season training tomorrow and trying to force his way back into the side - and the utility man is eyeing a midfield berth.

He added: "Being able to play in different positions can work for you or against you. It means you can fill in, but then you can get moved to another position.

"When I first came I played at right-back, but Murts (Graeme Murty) is definitely the No. 1.

Ideally I would like to play in midfield and if the manager plays with three in there that would help.